TOURNEY’S TOP TWO — Mike Pettinella, left, captured his second straight Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters tournament and his fourth overall in competition on Saturday at Rusty Rail Lanes in Oakfield — edging Tom Rohl, right, 202-191. (provided photo)
NOVEMBER 30, 2025 – Mike Pettinella of Batavia successfully defended his Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters crown on Saturday, prevailing in three down-to-the-wire closing round matches at Rusty Rail Lanes in Oakfield.
The victory is the two-time GRUSBC Hall of Famer’s fourth Senior Masters title (2007, 2011, 2024, 2025) – the most in the tournament history. At age 70, he becomes the oldest Senior Masters champion, eclipsing the mark he set last year when he triumphed at Mount Morris Lanes.
The right-hander defeated lefty Tom Rohl, also a GRUSBC Hall of Famer, in the championship match, 202-191, to earn the $360 top prize and a free entry into the Scratch Memorial tournament on Jan. 3-4 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
Pettinella, using the MOTIV Hyper Venom for most of the tournament, delivered a strike on the first ball in the 10th frame to clinch the win after Rohl had recorded two strikes and nine pins in his 10th frame to force Pettinella to mark.
For tournament statistics, go to www.bowlgr.com
Rohl, who turned 52 on Friday, won $250.
Pettinella advanced to face Rohl, the top-seed in the three-bowler final round, by edging Brian Weber of Perry, another GRUSBC Hall of Famer, 200-185.
This match also came down to the final frame. Pettinella posted strikes in the ninth and 10th frame to force Weber to strike on the first ball in his 10th frame. The 53-year-old righty left the 7-pin, however, and took home the $150 third prize.
In the semifinals featuring the top six of the tournament’s 13 qualifiers (the event drew 47 entries), that, too, came down to the last frame to determine the three bowlers who would advance to the head-to-head finals.
Weber led the way with a 245 game, with Rohl, Pettinella and Batavian Jim Lambert, bowling in his first tournament in many years, in a close battle for the remaining two spots.
After Rohl and Lambert posted 216 and 215, respectively, Pettinella came through with two strikes and nine for a 216 to advance along with Rohl.
Lambert, 2023 Senior Masters Champion Rob Gustke of Rochester and Brett Van Duser of Perry each won $120 for finishing in the top six.
Gustke led the two-game second round with 509 and averaged 233 for the tournament while Rohl posted a 227 average.
Also cashing ($80 each) were Mark Brown of Attica, Jim Foss of Medina, Keith Nugent of Portageville, Dana Nowack of Livonia, Rick Pernicone of Nunda, Don Parrott of Perry and John Lowe of Le Roy.
Rohl, the tournament’s high qualifier with a 726 three-game series, was looking to join Batavians Paul Spiotta and Fred Gravanda as the only bowlers in association history to win a Masters and Senior Masters title.